To ensure that students experiencing homelessness, referred to as students in transition by ESSA, shall 
have equal access to the same free, appropriate public education as provided to other children and youth:

Students in transition are individuals who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. These 
students include:

1.  Students sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship or a 
   similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks or camping grounds due to the lack of 
   alternative adequate accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; or students 
   abandoned in hospitals;  
2. Students who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designated 
   for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings;
3. Students living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or 
   train stations or similar settings; and 
4. Migratory students who are living in circumstances described above.  

ENROLLMENT

Students experiencing homelessness shall be immediately enrolled, even if the student is unable to 
produce records normally required for enrollment (i.e. academic records, immunization records, health 
records, proof of residency), or missed the district’s application or enrollment deadlines. Parents/legal 
guardians are required to submit contact information to the district’s homeless coordinator.

PLACEMENT

For the purpose of this policy, school of origin shall mean the school that the student attended when 
permanently housed or the school in which the student was last enrolled, including a preschool/pre-k 
program. School of origin shall also include the designated receiving school at the next grade level when 
the student completes the final grade level served by the school of origin.

Placement shall be determined based on the student’s best interest. At all times, a strong presumption 
that keeping the student in the school of origin is in the student’s best interest shall be maintained, unless  doing so would be contrary to a request made by the student’s parent/legal guardian or the student in the  case of an unaccompanied youth. When determining placement, student-centered factors, including but  not limited to impact of mobility on achievement, education, health, and safety shall be considered. The  choice regarding placement shall be made regardless of whether the student lives with their parents/legal  guardians.

If it is not in the student’s best interest to attend the school of origin, or the school requested by the 
parent/legal guardian or unaccompanied youth, the director or his/her designee shall provide a written 
explanation of the reasons for the determination, in a manner and form that is understandable to the parent/legal guardian or unaccompanied youth. The written explanation shall include a statement 
regarding the right to appeal the placement decision. If the placement decision is appealed, the district 
shall refer the parent/legal guardian or unaccompanied student to the student support services supervisor, who shall carry out the dispute resolution process as expeditiously as possible and in accordance with the law.

RECORDS

Records ordinarily kept by the school shall be maintained for all students in transition. Information 
regarding a student in transition’s living situation shall be treated as a student education record, and shall  not be considered directory information.

SERVICES

Each student is provided services comparable to those offered to other students within the district, 
including transportation, special education services, programs in career and technical education (CTE), 
programs for gifted and talented students, and school nutrition.

A homeless liaison shall ensure this policy is implemented throughout the district. The homeless liaison 
shall ensure:

1.  Students in transition are quickly identified and have access to education and support services, to  include Head Start and district pre-k programs; 
2. Coordination with local social service agencies and other entities providing services to school 
   districts; 
3. Coordinate transportation, transfer records, and other inter-district activities with other school 
   districts; 
4. Coordinate transportation to the school of origin or choice for students; 
5. Refer students and their families to health care services, dental services, mental health and 
   substance abuse services, and housing services; 
6. Assist students in obtaining immunizations, medical or immunization records, and any additional 
   assistance that may be needed; 
7. Public notice of the educational rights of students experiencing homelessness is disseminated in 
   places frequented by parents/legal guardians of students experiencing homelessness, including 
   schools, shelters, public libraries, and soup kitchens; and 
8. Unaccompanied youth are enrolled and informed of their status as independent students.

Legal References:

1. McKinney-Vento Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2001 Subtitle B §§ 721-725. 
2. McKinney-Vento Act, as amended by ESSA (Pub. L 114-95), § 725. 
3. McKinney-Vento Act, as amended by ESSA (Pub. L 114-95), § 722(g)(3)(C)(i), § 722(g)(3)(H). 
4. McKinney-Vento Act, as amended by ESSA (Pub. L 114-95), § 722(g)(3)(I). 
5. McKinney-Vento Act, as amended by ESSA (Pub. L 114-95), § 722(g)(3)(A). 
6. McKinney-Vento Act, as amended by ESSA (Pub. L 114-95), § 722(g)(3)(B). 
7. McKinney-Vento Act, as amended by ESSA (Pub. L 114-95), § 722(g)(3)(F). 
8. McKinney-Vento Act, as amended by ESSA (Pub. L 114-95), § 722(g)(3)(E). 
9. McKinney-Vento Act, as amended by ESSA (Pub. L 114-95), § 722(g)(3)(G). 
10. McKinney-Vento Act, as amended by ESSA (Pub. L 114-95), § 722(g)(4)-(6).

Cross Reference:

•  Knox County Board of Education Policy J-150 School Admissions. 
   

Approved as to Legal Form 
By Knox County Law Director 10/31/2023 
/Gary T. Dupler/Deputy Law Director